Sunday, April 17, 2016

James Malm on the Syrian Conflict

When massive protests erupted in 2011 from the very start the Assad regime tried to discredit them as conspirators backed by some conspiracy. One pro-regime TV station even alleged that Barcelona FC was part of the conspiracy. The possibility that the initial protest movement spontaneously arose had to be ignored to justify the regime retaining power.

The Assad regime was determined to shatter the unity that initially existed within the protest movement. It would be difficult to persuade people to fight a popular protest movement that embraced members of all religions. It would be easier for the regime if it was just one religious group. Then the other groups would support the regime, or at least be silent.

It was difficult fighting a peaceful protest movement. If it became an armed insurgency then the regime would have the advantage of using their military firepower, air force and economic resources to crush such an insurgency. The international community would be less inclined to get involved in a morally ambiguous situation.

So the Assad regime sectarianized the conflict. Hardliners were released from prison at the same time as the Assad regime were arresting many peaceful protesters. In mid-2012 the regime even left Kurdish areas. The Syrian Kurds were for the most part left alone while the Syrian Arab areas were ruthlessly attacked by the regime. Painful memories of the Muslim Brotherhood's insurgency of 1976-82 were resurrected to motivate Assad's supporters in the war. Massacres were committed against Sunni communities such as the Houla massacre of May 25, 2012 in which 108 civilians were killed and the al-Qubair massacre of June 6, 2012 in which at least 55 people were killed. The brutality of the regime's repression provoked an armed insurgency in response. And, partly because of who was targeted by the regime, parts of the insurgency became Islamist in nature.

As some of those Salafists released from prison joined extremist such as Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIL the regime's narrative of a sectarian conspiracy became true. Inconvenient questions about the Assad regime's treatment of prisoners lost their urgency. As events spiraled out of control the Assad regime outsourced its work of repression to Shiite sectarian militias such as Hezbollah and others from Iraq and Afghanistan. Iranian soldiers got involved as well. Using Shiite militias further sectarianized the conflict.

The regime's actions produced this result. There was nothing inevitable about this terrible war.

Later when Russia intervened with its air bombardments it was noted by many that Russia had really intervened for the Assad regime, not specifically against the terrorists of ISIL. Most airstrikes were directed at other armed groups outside of ISIL territory.

For whatever reason the Armstrongite James Malm has tended to portray the Assad regime in a sympathetic light.

Below are some of James Malm's words concerning the war in Syria. The Assad regime's views about the conflict seem to be accepted at face value. At times it is insinuated that the insurgency was something foreign that started outside of Syria. The possibility that the Assad regime's violence created the armed insurgency seems to be not discussed by Malm as far as I know.

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Before the west’s infiltration of Syria in 2011, the country was in the
black and enjoying steady economic growth that beat China in terms of
percentage – all during a period of recession in the west. With
sanctions and destabilization, that has changed, and with further
asset-stripping, just like Libya, Syria will remain deep in the red for the foreseeable future. ...
A Western coup de grace against Syria is expected soon, which will no
doubt include some Russia / US sabre rattling. There is nothing to be
concerned about, ouitside the region; this will be worked out although
the war against Syria will likely spread to include Iran and Hezbollah,
resetting the regional realities for a genuine dialogue for regional
peace. (July 11, 2012.)

In order for an agreement on peace and safety, it is clear that there must be a war to reset the realities in the Middle East first. And this war is for the purpose of reducing Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran; to set the conditions for a peace agreement.
This war is not the tribulation and we will not lose this war, because it has been very carefully prepared for and carefully planned, for a number of years, at least three years. And the conditions are now set for that war; and when it comes, there will be a victory and the whole balance of power in the Middle East, in the region; will be changed and the conditions will be set for a peace agreement in the region. (August 16, 2012.)

This post reveals exactly what is going on in Syria and Iraq, Israel and
Gaza; and how Islamic extremists are being destroyed to bring a genuine
Peace and Safety deal as per 1 Thess 5:3. in 2016. The Plan to
Destroy Islamic Extremists and Overthrow Assad and Iran.... (November 3, 2015.)

Obama’s national security team held four meetings in the past week on
how to defeat the Islamic State. The Obama administration then
discussed the Turkish allied proposal of overthrowing the Assad regime
after defeating the Islamic Extremists. (November 13, 2014.)

For weeks since the liberation of Tikrit, the Coalition has been content
to let the Islamic State and the Syria Hezbollah forces damage one
another.... (May 25, 2015.)

Anti Assad – anti Islamic State situation may be beginning to develop
from the recent IS attacks. 18,000 Turkish Troops on Standby for Anti
IS Coalition Push into Syria. (June 30, 2015.)

It appears that Syria with a heavy Russian backing is gearing up for an offensive against the Islamic State inside Syria. (September 22, 2015.)

Part of the spin off from the Iran nuclear deal was for the Russians,
Iranians and Chinese to join Hezbollah and Syria in an overwhelming
offensive against the Islamic State in Syria; while the Kurds, Iraqis
and the US attack the IS inside Iraq. (September 26, 2015.)

Putin / Obama agree to work to pass UNSC resolution on Syria and against
Islamic State. Russia to bomb IS after resolution passes UNSC. (September 29, 2015.)

Government troops launch ground offensive against Islamists in the Idlib, Homs, Hama area of Syria. (October 7, 2015.)

A look inside the deal being negotiated to resolve the Syrian trouble and destroy Islamic Extremism. (October 25, 2015.)

BERLIN/DAMASCUS (Own report) – With impressive scholarship programs, the
German government seeks to establish firm ties to the future elite of
post-war Syria. Already last year the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs
began to bring more than 200 selected Syrian students to Germany,
within the “Leadership for Syria” program, to be instructed.... (January 31, 2016.)

Turkey has rejected the Syrian ceasefire and sent over 100
Islamic Extremists across teh border to attack a town in northern Syria
in coordination with other extremists inside Syria and with heavy
Turkish artillery fire support. Russia responded yesterday with aerial
support for the attacked town. (February 1, 2016.)

If You are new please read this

Hand in Hand for Syria

Keep Somalia's Remittances Open

I encourage readers to sign this petition from Oxfam calling upon the U.S. government to let the Somali diaspora continue to send remittance to their loved ones in Somalia.

Moves have been made to shut down such remittances from Somalis in America. Many Somalis need these remittances. The remittances to Somalia are larger than foreign aid contributions and are a lifeline to these people caught in trouble and turmoil.

It is true that HWA said that some Eastern European states would break away from Moscow's orbit and join the European Empire he said would arise at any moment. But he never talked of the Soviet Union collapsing. He did not teach that. Also he portrayed the rise of the European Empire to be far quicker then what has actually happened. In Mystery of the Ages Christ was supposed to return by 2005 at the most.

So assertions that the fall of the Berlin Wall somehow prove that HWA was right is just complete nonsense spread by people who, for whatever reason, are still in denial that HWA was a false prophet who merely talked out of his own "human reasoning".

Truth about Roderick C. Meredith

What sort of man is he? A man who could say things like this.

"Mr. Armstrong has reminded us again that we are to disfellowship any members who attend GTA's [Garner Ted Armstrong's] campaigns, church services or other meetings. Some of our weaker members apparently do not realize that this man is in direct rebellion against God and His government! We must not allow them, or ourselves, to rationalize about this matter, to try to "help the underdog," or in any other way lend support to one whose gross immorality, whose long standing "play acting" and hypocrisy, and whose direct insubordination to the Government of God has long been and is now a source of confusion and DIVISION among God's people. So, as per Mr. Armstrong's instruction, I charge and exhort every one of you faithful ministers of the living Christ to explain this in no uncertain terms to your members, to warn them about this cause of division and then to disfellowship any who consort with GTA or any of his fellows." (Roderick C. Meredith, Pastor's Report, May 21, 1979, pp. 1-2.)

David Robinson on Roderick C. Meredith

"During the ten years I have been an employee of the Worldwide Church, you have been poorly spoken of by most of the ministers and employees I have known. I vividly remember the absolute unbounded glee that was openly expressed by a good number of respected men in the church when you were first "shanghaied." [In 1972.] I could begin by naming names, which I am sure would shock you. I was one of the few who stood, where possible, for you. Your tenure as superintendent of ministers, as I believe the office was then called, was looked on as nightmarish. While you held office during the years of growth, most of those whom I know gave you very little credit for that growth. Almost everyone whom I know, whether they be former friends of yours, or continuing foes, recalls insensitive and terrible things you have done. Without exception, at least among my acquaintances, they all credit you with an unbridled lust for power and list you as one who is willing to pay the price of gaining that power, no matter what. I have, through many of the last few years, believed you had principles you would not violate. Many a man of experience in the church assured me of my error. Events have proven me wrong and them right. Mr. Armstrong has himself been widely quoted as saying of you that you were so righteous that you were so "righteous you were unrighteous." " (David Robinson, Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web, Chapter 16, p. 207.)

Of course it is impossible for me to personally verify these assertions but people deserve to know what this knowledgeable man had to say about him.